Male plug retainer

ABSTRACT

A male electrical plug retainer to cover a wall-mounted type electrical box or the faceplate of such a box. The retainer has a plate portion fastened to the box or the faceplate with a screw. The retainer also has a recess adapted to receive and retain a male plug. A hole extends from the recess to permit passage of the line cord. A recess is partially formed by a split threaded hollow cover, provided with locating pins and a hole, and a center closure is provided to close said hole when a line cord does not pass through it.

United States Patent Inventor Glenn D. Gober [56] References Cited 27President Ave., Rutledge, Pa. 19070 UNITED STATES PATENTS P 335053,363,216 1/1968 Benedetto 339 39 filed 3 428 936 2/1969 Amao Jr 339/39Patented g 24 1971 Primary Examiner.loseph H. McGlynn Attorney- PaulMaleson ABSTRACT: A male electrical plug retainer to cover a wallmountedtype electrical box or the faceplate of such a box. 3 3 a F EF Theretainer has a plate portion fastened to the box or the faceplate with ascrew. The retainer also has a recess adapted U.S.Cl. 339/39, to receiveand retain a male plug. A hole extends from the 339/75 P recess topermit passage of the line cord. A recess is partially Int. CL H0lr13/44 formed by a split threaded hollow cover, provided with locat-Field of Search 339/36, 37, ing pins and a hole, and a center closure isprovided to close 39, 75-79, 82 said hole when a line cord does not passthrough it.

PATENTEI] M82419?! INVENTOR 6L E/VN D. 6085/? F/GIZ ATTORNEY MALE PLUGRETAINER 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the fieldof electrical connectors, generally of the commonly known householdtype. It relates to the art of providing a means to retain a male plugin a female wall outlet so as to prevent accidental removal of the plug.

2. Description of the Prior Art A number of prior expedients in thisgeneral field have been known. Such expedienm include for exampledisclosures in US. Pats. Nos. 3,159,446; 3,161,450; 2,895,119;2,704,831; 2,451,982; 1,912,252; and 2,441,643 for example, as well asother similar patents.- There are a number of desirable attributes ofsuch a device, including low cost, simplicity of manufacture, ease ofinstallation, ample safety provision, ability to alter function and easeof doing so, good external appearance, ability to be made dustproof andwaterproof, optional methods of installation. The prior expedients donot have all of these advantages or do not have them in the same degreethat the present invention does.

SUMMARY It is an object of this invention to provide a male electricalplug retainer.

The invention generally comprises a unit adapted to be fastened directlyover the faceplate of a wall-mounted type of female electrical outlet,or alternatively, to replace the faceplate. In either case, it is easilyinstalled without any alteration of the electrical box or of the femaleelectrical fixture itself. Thus, the services of an electrician are notneeded to install or remove the unit, and it may be done by thehouseholder.

The prime purpose of this particular invention is to provide a safetycover for unused female outlets and to retain the male plugs fromaccidental disengagement, and the thrust of this invention isparticularly directed toward households with children, rather thandealing with more rigorous security means or pilferage prevention. Thatis, this device will protect against accidental yank on a cord, oragainst the capabilities of young children, but is not intended tofrustrate a determined adult.

The retainer comprises a plate portion which fastens over the walloutlet electrical box or over the faceplate of said box, and is fastenedthereto by a screw, extending into the normal screw hole or holes. Arecess is provided in the retainer, positioned over the female outlet.The recess is adapted to retain within it the male plug. The recess ispartly defined by a hole in the plate, and partly by a hollow removablesplit threaded cover. The threaded cover is removed by unscrewing fromthe plate. The cover may then be opened into two halves and a I maleplug inserted therein. The line cord of the male plug extends through ahole in the center of the top of the cover. The halves of the cover arereassembled, being positioned by locating pins. The plug is insertedinto the female outlet. The completed cover is then screwed back intothe plate portion of the retainer. If an outlet is not being used, acenter closure is held in the hole between the cover halves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS The invention may be best initially understood in connectionwith FIG. 3. It is here shown as applied to a wall electrical outletprovided with two female electrical sockets arranged in verticalalignment, as is common. FIG. 1 also aids in understanding the generalconstruction. The vertical structural wall 1 is provided with the pairof female sockets 23. These sockets are provided in an ordinaryelectrical outlet box, whose detailed structure as such is not a part ofthis invention. The general top and bottom boundaries of the electricalbox are indicated by the pair of horizontal linesextending into the walltoward the left as seen in FIG. 3. In one embodiment of the invention,the ordinary electrical outlet faceplate 18, normally present over suchelectrical outlet boxes and around such sockets, is not discarded. InFIG. 3, the faceplate 18 is shown covering the outlet box and with holesprovided in it to accommodate the sockets 23.

A male plug retainer, generally designated 2, is provided, and is thestructure of this invention. The male plug retainer 2 comprises aretainer body 3. The retainer body 3 has a general dimensionapproximating that of a faceplate, and sufficient to cover the frontopening of the electrical outlet box. It is generally rectangular. Theretainer body 3 has a substantial thickness or depth. Progressing fromthe edges of the retainer 3 toward the center, the depth or thicknessincreases to rise to a boss 4, which surrounds the central section ofthe retainer and surrounds the section which encompasses the sockets, asis described further below.

The boss is provided with a pair of holes which are adapted to registerwith female sockets 23. These holes are well shown in FIG. 3. Part ofeach hole is provided with internal threads 19. These threads start atthe outermost surface of the retainer body, that is, that portion of thebody most remote from the electrical outlet, and extend inwardly. Theseinternally threaded holes define and form a recess 21 in the body of theretainer. The ordinary type of faceplate is afiixed to an outlet box bymeans of a screw or screws. Commonly, if the outlet box is provided withdual outlets, a single screw is provided between these outlets. Theretainer body 3 is provided with a retaining screw 7 between the twodescribed recesses. This retaining screw 7 takes the place of theconventional retaining screw in a faceplate, so that the retainer 2 maybe fastened to the outlet box over the faceplate 18 using the previouslyexisting threaded hole to receive the screw 7.

Each of the recesses 21 is provided with a removable threaded hollowcover generally designated 12. One of these covers is described, itbeing understood that a description of one is a description of the otherin the dual arrangement as shown. The cover 12 is split, that is, itcomprises two separable half sections. These sections are best shown inFIG. 4. A first part or section 5 and a second part or section 6 isprovided. Each part has a threaded hollow shank 11. This shank isthreaded externally, and is adapted to be threadedly engageable with theinternal threads 19 in the retainer body 3. The outer portion of eachpart of the threaded hollow cover comprises a knurled knob portion and acollar 8. The collar 8 serves as an outer flange or lid, and partiallycloses the outer surface of the hollow cover 12. This collar 8 isprovided with a reduced diameter hole centrally located therethrough.The two parts of the cover 12 are provided preferably with means tofacilitate their assembly together to form a complete cover. As shown inFIG. 4, these means comprise a pair of locating pins 10 on the firstpart 5, and a corresponding pair of locating pin holes 17 on the secondpart 6. The dotted lines in FIG. 4 show the pin insertion paths.

The two halves when assembled, as shown in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 1, providea cover recess 20. This recess 20 joins part of the body recess 21, andprovides an almost closed recess around and in front of each femalesocket 23. And a last elastomeric gasket 16 is provided on each cover12, and can be slipped over the threaded shank portion thereof after thetwo halves thereof are assembled.

In using the male plug retainer, the existing screw holding a faceplateto a wall outlet is removed, and the retaining screw 7 replaces it,fastening the retainer 2 over the outlet and the faceplate 18 as shown.A threaded hollow cover 12 is unscrewed from the retainer body 3. Thetwo halves thereof are separated. A male plug 14, provided with a linecord 13 and prongs 15, is inserted in the cover 12 as follows. The linecord 13 is passed through that portion of a hole in the collar 8 whichexists on one of the cover 12 parts. The other part is then assembled toand mated to the first described part, as by using the locating pins.Thus, the collar 8 surrounds the line cord 13, and the two parts 5 and 6of the cover 12 are held in place manually. The plug 14 extends to theleft, as shown in FIG. 3. The plug is then inserted into the femalesocket 23. Then, the cover 12 is slid along the cord 13 until theexternal threads on the shank ll'engage the internal threads 19 on theretainer body 3, and the cover 12 is then screwed into place. If agasket 16 is provided, it is slipped over the shank and against theinner side of the knurled knob before the plug is inserted into thesocket. It is apparent that after the cover is firmly inserted, the plugis retained inside the combined recessed 20, 21, and is retained inelectrical contact with the wall outlet.

If one of the outlets is not to be provided with a plug, the center holein the collar 8 is closed. This is accomplished by providing a centerhole closure 9 which fits into the hole in the collar 8. The closure 9is held in place by friction and by the compressive force of the twoparts 5 and 6 of the cover 12, which compressive force is exerted whenthe cover 12 is screwed into the body 3.

In FIG. 2, a view from the interior of an electrical outlet box isshown, showing the faceplate 18 over the box, and showing as visiblethrough the holes in the faceplate 18, a closed cover on the bottom anda plug 14 with prongs 15 provided in the upper portion.

lt is apparent that there can be one or a plurality of sockets in themale plug retainer of this invention, and that two are shown only by wayof illustration. It is apparent that the gaskets 16 are optional.Additional gasketing material can be provided in accord with knownprocedures around the marginal inwardly facing edges of the retainerbody, and inside the center hole in the collar 8. The provision of suchcomplete gasketing tends to or completely makes the unit dust orwaterproof, as may be desirable in some classes of service.

The retainer 2 can conveniently be installed over an existing faceplate18. it is also obvious that the faceplate can be removed as superfluousand the retainer 2 can take the place of a faceplate. For maximum easeof household installation, and for automatic self-storage of thefaceplate, the faceplate is retained in its original position. If forany reason, generally, esthetic reasons, it is desired not to have thefaceplate in place, it can be removed, and the operation of all aspectsof the invention is identical to that described above. For example, ifthe faceplate 18 is not used, the illustration of FIG. 8 would beidentical except that the cross section hatch lines would continue inthe same direction through the section marked 18, and in FIG. 1, theslight border showing the gap between the edge of the retainer body andthe edge of the faceplate would not exist. in FIG. 2, the surfaceidentified as 18 would be the inside surface of the body 3, and theconfiguration of the cut outs around the sockets would be round insteadof exactly as shown.

Some of the advantages of this structure have been described above.Other advantages recommend themselves obviously from a consideration ofthe structure. This is a versatile, flexible device, easy tomanufacture, and very easy to install and remove as a whole by anunskilled householder. It is also very easy to remove or installindividual electrical connections while leaving the body in place. Itpermits the retension of a preexisting faceplate, so that the faceplatemay be used if it is later decided to remove the male plug retainer ofthe invention. The provision of the center enclosure 9 is an addedsafety feature to make sure that there is no access to the electricaloutlet, which is an important consideration where children are involved.It is also obvious that the closure 9 can be itself stored in the recess20 when a plug 14 is being retained, so that if it is later decided toremove the plug, the

closure 9 can be reapplied. The elements of the structure may bemanufactured o moldable plastic by known means. The

device protects against tampering by children, and against otherunintentional electrical disengagement, which may cause loses orinconvenience as when equipment such as air conditioners orrefrigerators are inadvertently disconnected.

The locating pins, or other mating means are preferable, but notessential to the practice of the invention, since the sections 5 and 6may be manually assembled and held together without the aid of thesedevices. For applications involving minimum specification and stressinglowest cost of manufacture, the gaskets are not essential. It isapparent however, that the provision of a gasket 16 is in itself a meansto hold the two parts of the cover 12 together before they are screwedinto the body.

The scope of this invention is determined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A male electrical plug retainer to hold a male plug in a socket,comprising,

. a. a retainer body having the general planer dimensions andconfiguration of an electrical outlet faceplate, a retaining screw tohold said retainer adjacent said socket, a hole in said retainer bodypositioned to register over said socket, said hole partially comprisinga recess in said retainer, and being at least partially provided withinternal threads,

b. a hollow cover comprising a hollow externally threaded shank and acollar, said collar being provided with a reduced diameter center hole,said threads on said shank being engageable with said internallythreaded hole in said retainer body, said recess in said retainer bodyand recess in said cover together forming a recess to accommodate a maleplug, said cover being split into a first part and a second part throughsaid center hole, said center hole being dimensioned to accommodatetherethrough an electrical cord attached to said male plug.

2. A male plug retainer as set forth in claim 1 wherein a selectivelyinsertable center hole closure is provided, said center hole closurefitting into said center hole in said neck and being held therein byfriction and compression of the said parts of said cover, said closurebeing inserted at such times as said electrical cord does not passthrough said center hole.

3. A male plug retainer as set forth in claim 2 wherein locating meansare provided on said first and second parts of said hollow cover, saidlocating means aiding the registration of said parts together to formsaid cover.

4. A male plug retainer as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locatingmeans comprises a pair of locating pins on said first part of said coverand a pair of corresponding locating pin holes on said second part ofsaid hollow cover.

5. A male plugretainer as set forth in claim 2 wherein a knurled knob isprovided around said threaded cover between said central hole and saidshank.

6. A male plug retainer as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retainercomprises a plurality of said holes, each of said holes being providedwith a said cover.

7. A mole plug retainer as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retainerbody replaces a faceplate around said socket.

8. A male plug retainer as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retainerbody is provided over a faceplate around said socket.

9. A male plug retainer as set forth in claim 2 wherein gaskets areprovided on closing surfaces of said male plug retainer to make saidmale plug retainer substantially waterproof and dust proof.

1. A male electrical plug retainer to hold a male plug in a socket,comprising, a. a retainer body having the general planer dimensions andconfiguration of an electrical outlet faceplate, a retaining screw tohold said retainer adjacent said socket, a hole in said retainer bodypositioned to register over said socket, said hole partially comprisinga recess in said retainer, and being at least partially provided withinternal threads, b. a hollow cover comprising a hollow externallythreaded shank and a collar, said collar being provided with a reduceddiameter center hole, said threads on said shank being engageable withsaid internally threaded hole in said retainer body, said recess in saidretainer body and recess in said cover together forming a recess toaccommodate a male plug, said cover being split into a first part and asecond part through said center hole, said center hole being dimensionedto accommodate therethrough an electrical cord attached to said maleplug.
 2. A male plug retainer as set forth in claim 1 wherein aselectively insertable center hole closure is provided, said center holeclosure fitting into said center hole in said neck and being heldtherein by friction and compression of the said parts of said cover,said closure being inserted at such times as said electrical cord doesnot pass through said center hole.
 3. A male plug retainer as set forthin claim 2 wherein locating means are provided on said first and secondparts of said hollow cover, said locating means aiding the registrationof said parts together to form said cover.
 4. A male plug retainer asset Forth in claim 3 wherein said locating means comprises a pair oflocating pins on said first part of said cover and a pair ofcorresponding locating pin holes on said second part of said hollowcover.
 5. A male plug retainer as set forth in claim 2 wherein a knurledknob is provided around said threaded cover between said central holeand said shank.
 6. A male plug retainer as set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid retainer comprises a plurality of said holes, each of said holesbeing provided with a said cover.
 7. A mole plug retainer as set forthin claim 2 wherein said retainer body replaces a faceplate around saidsocket.
 8. A male plug retainer as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidretainer body is provided over a faceplate around said socket.
 9. A maleplug retainer as set forth in claim 2 wherein gaskets are provided onclosing surfaces of said male plug retainer to make said male plugretainer substantially waterproof and dust proof.